Hoppertunity scratched

California Chrome was installed as the clear morning-line favorite, at odds of 5-to-2, for the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby after post positions were drawn at Churchill Downs on Wednesday.

The chestnut colt, who’s trained by Art Sherman and ridden by Victor Espinoza, will break from the No. 5 post. He's won six of 10 career starts, already topping $1 million in earnings. He’s won his last four races by a combined 24 ¼ lengths, including the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 5.

A 5-to-2 price is pretty short for a 20-horse field, noted Mike Battaglia, the oddsmaker responsible for posting Churchill Downs’ morning-line numbers.

“I like it,” Espinoza said of the draw during NBC Sports' telecast. “The last time I won the Kentucky Derby I was No. 5, so hopefully that’s my lucky number.”

War Emblem, with Espinoza up, wore the Roses in 2002.

With a victory on Saturday, Sherman, 77, would become the oldest trainer to have ever won the Derby. Charlie Whittingham was 76 when he saddled Sunday Silence in 1989.

Battaglia indicated he adjusted some prices based on Wednesday’s draw. The track handicapper originally had the Bob Baffert-trained Hoppertunity at 8-to-1 but made him 6-to-1 after the horse drew the favorable No. 11 post.

Wicked Strong was initially Battaglia’s second choice but was switched to third after drawing the outer-most 20th spot. The colt's odds went from 6-to-1 to 8-to-1, according to Battaglia.

Update: Hoppertunity has been scratched, Baffert announced on Thursday, and Battaglia revised his morning-line odds, moving Wicked Strong back to 6-to-1. Also, Hoppertunity's exit has opened a spot in the field for Pablo Del Monte.

“I guess I was just kind of shocked,” Napravnik said. “… It’s not ideal for anybody. I don’t think anybody wants to get the 1-hole, but if I had to have a horse come out of the 1-hole, Vicar’s really sharp coming out of the gate, and I think we’ll be able to get into a good position anyway. … There’s been plenty of winners out of there, so Vicar’s not in trouble yet.”

Vicar’s in Trouble displayed early speed when he went wire-to-wire to win the Louisiana Derby in March.

The No. 19 post, joked Battaglia, shouldn’t be too much of an issue for Ride on Curlin with Calvin Borel aboard. Borel, a three-time Derby winner, is affectionately referred to as “Bo-rail” for his penchant to take his horses to the inside.

“The over/under on how long it takes Calvin Borel to get to the rail from the 19 post is 300 yards,” Battaglia quipped.

Here is the 20-horse field for Saturday’s Derby, with revised morning-line odds.